Electric power distribution system



Feb. 15, 1944-. QARLSQN 2,341,841

ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Filed July 19, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 27726? ,7? darZaan/ Tr NEY ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Filed July 19, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTOR Car .5070

Feb. 15, 1944. E. T. CARLSON 2,341,841

ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Filed July 19, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I VENTOR Khmer-Z? rison/ Patented Feb. 15, 1944 2,341,841 I ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Elmer T. Carlson, Fort Mitchell, Ky., asslgnor to The Trumbull Electric Manufaoturln pany, Plainville, Colin 7 nccticut g Coma corporation of Con- Application July 19, 1941, Serial No. 403,216 2 Claims. (Cl. 174-49) My invention relates bus bar duct systems.

One object is to provide a rugged duct structure that can be readily made and installed and that is adapted to many forms of installation.

Another object is to provide a structure which is adapted to accommodate supports and hangers at any point without drilling or punching holes in the enclosure.

The broad idea involved in my invention in cludes the formation of the duct in four parts, i. e., upper and lower channel members with outwardly flaring flanges and side binder or molding strips embracing the flanges and closing the spaces between the flanges. The bus bars are psitioned by insulating blocks which in turn are held by Spreaders to which the strips are secured. The strips are so formed as to facilitate the attachment of supporting yokes and also the attachment of hangers to support branch box connectors and the like. The invention may be adapted to various forms of bus bar systems and various forms of branch connectors and other plug-in devices. I have shown it for a three wire system but obviously the number of conductors is immaterial.

Fig. 1 is a side view on a small scale of one end a duct system embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the end box of Fig. 1 on a larger scale.

Fig. 3 is a side View and 2.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a schematic end view of the upper and lower parts of the end box and also of the splice plate for a long section cover and a joint inspection plate or cover.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a part of the duct system, parts being broken away to show the interior supports.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view on a larger scale.

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of the end box of Figs. 2 and 4.

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of a modification showing a hanger and a plug-in box attached to the duct.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view hanger clamps.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a part of the duct system showing a joint.

The channels I4 and I5 form the upper and lower parts or covers, respectively, of the duct system and have lateral flanges I6, I 6 on each side connected by channel-like moldings l1 whose particularly to enclosed of the end box of Figs. 1

of the parts of Figs.

showing one of the edges #8, l8 are bent inwardly so as to form grooves 18 above and below.

The bus bars 26 are positioned by insulating blocks 2! which are in turn positioned by channel-like Spreaders or posts 22, 22, each of which is anchored to the duct by screws 23, 23. The posts and blocks may be moved along the duct to any point necessary to coact with the screws.

The covers are provided wi h openings 2, 2 at intervals to accommodate the terminal blades or stabs (not ShOWll) of connector boxes where desired. The openings 24. when not in use are closed by cover plates 39 which are pivoted so as to be swung to open and close the openings and may be screwed by screws 48.

A. support or yoke 28 has hooks 27 adapted to engage in grooves is below the moldings. The branch box connector may be supported by hangers 29. Each hanger is composed of a body part 30 attached by a screw 3! to the box and a hook 32 connected to the body by an adjusting screw 33 so that the box can be drawn up snugly against the duct.

The upper and lower parts of the duct are preferably made up of long and short sections, the long sec 'ons being united by splice pieces 35 and nuts 36 and bolts 38, and the spaces between the short sections for access to the bus bar connections being closed by removable inspection plates 31 secured to extension or splice pieces 38 in the ends of the short sections by means of screws 38'.

The bus bars are joined by suitable nuts and bolts at the end of each section, and these joints are exposed upon removal of the inspection covers 31.

The end box of a run may be formed somewhat differently although using parts like splice piece 35 and inspection plate 31 (see Figs. 1 to 5 and 8). The lower channel part 42, like member 31, has a rib l3 and the upper part 44, like part 35, has a flange 45. The upper part is embraced by a channel having the flanges Hi. The molding 48 embraces these parts and is held in place by a screw 5. The end is closed by a plate 5| which has flanges SI and 52 secured to the pper and lower parts by screws 53. The terminal lugs 54 are mounted on an insulatin base 55 secured to the channel 48. The flanges IS on the main sections of the duct may be inclined at an angle (see Figs. 9 and 10) but it is more diflicult to assemble such a structure.

Ordinarily these ducts are formed of sheet metal such as steel. By forming one of the channels or one of the moldings of non-magnetic matenal such as aluminum or brass I can prevent the formation of a complete magnetic field around the bus bars and still make the major part out of the less expensive and strong sheet iron or steel. This in some cases is quite important because a complete magnetic field will often cause humming or cause undue heating of the enclosure.

I claim:

1. In a bus bar duct system, a housing consisting of upper and lower channel-like sections having flanges extending laterally along the edges thereof, cover strips uniting the flanges along opposite sides, each cover strip having inturned flanges embracing the adjacent flanges of the housing sections, a series of independent supporting posts mounted within the housing along each side thereof for supporting bus bar insulators at intervals in the housing and fastening members passing through the cover strips between the flanges of the housing sections and engaging the respective supporting posts.

2. In a bus bar duct system, a housing consisting of upper and lower channel-like sections having flanges extending laterally along the edges thereof, cover strips uniting the flanges along opposite sides, each cover strip having inturned flanges embracing the adjacent flanges of the housing sections, a series of independent supporting posts mounted within the housing along each side thereof for supporting bus bar insulators at intervals in the housing, said posts extendin from the upper wall of the lower section to the lower wall of the upper section and holding the sections at predetermined distances apart and fastening members passing through the cover strips between, the flanges of the housing sections and engaging the respective supporting posts.

ELMER T. CARLSON. 

